ARTICLE 1. Temporary Urgency Changes [1435. - 1442.]

Cal. Water Code - WAT 1.

in effect

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 1435. Section 1435.

(a) Any permittee or licensee who has an urgent need to change a point of diversion, place of use, or purpose of use from that specified in the permit or license may petition for, and the board may issue, a conditional, temporary change order without complying with other procedures or provisions of this division, but subject to all requirements of this article. (b) Prior to issuing a change order pursuant to this article, the board shall make all of the following findings: (1) The permittee or licensee has an urgent need to make the proposed change. (2) The proposed change may be made without injury to any other lawful user of water. (3) The proposed change may be made without unreasonable effect upon fish, wildlife, or other instream beneficial uses. (4) The proposed change is in the public interest, including findings to support change order conditions imposed to ensure that the change is in the public interest, and may be made without injury to any other lawful user of the water, and without unreasonable effect upon fish, wildlife, and other instream beneficial uses. (c) “Urgent need,” for the purposes of this article, means the existence of circumstances from which the board may in its judgment conclude that the proposed temporary change is necessary to further the constitutional policy that the water resources of the state be put to beneficial use to the fullest extent of which they are capable and that waste of water be prevented; except that the board shall not find a petitioner’s need to be urgent if the board in its judgment concludes, if applicable, that the petitioner has not exercised due diligence either (1) in petitioning for a change pursuant to provisions of this division other than this article, or (2) in pursuing that petition for change. (d) The board may delegate to any officer or employee of the board all or any of its functions under this article, as provided in Section 7.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 1436. Section 1436.

The petition for a temporary change order shall be completed in accordance with the rules of the board, and the petitioner shall pay the fee required by Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 1525).

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 1437. Section 1437.

Before making the findings required by Section 1435, the board shall review available records, files, and decisions that relate to the rights of other legal users of water, consult with representatives of the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and make a field investigation if the investigation is necessary or desirable in the opinion of the board.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 1438. Section 1438.

(a) The board may issue a temporary change order in advance of the notice required by this section. In all cases, whether or not a temporary change order has been issued, the board shall, as soon as practicable after the receipt of a petition, issue and deliver to the permittee or licensee a notice of the change order which includes the information required by the rules of the board. (b) Publication or posting of the notice shall be as follows: (1) If the permit or license is for more than three cubic feet per second or for more than 200 acre-feet of storage, and if the change order is to remain in effect for more than 30 days, the notice shall be published by, and at the expense of, the permittee or licensee at the earliest practicable time, not to exceed 20 days from the date of issuance of the notice, in a newspaper having a general circulation and published within the county wherein the point of diversion lies. Proof of publication shall be by copy of the notice as published and made part of an affidavit filed with the board within 10 days of publication. (2) In all other cases, unless the change order is to be in effect less than 10 days: (A) The permittee or licensee shall post the notice in at least two conspicuous places in the locality to be affected by the change. Notices shall be posted not later than two days after receipt. An affidavit containing proof of posting shall be filed with the board within seven days of the date of notice. (B) The board shall send a copy of the notice by registered mail to each person who, in the judgment of the board, could be adversely affected by the temporary change. (c) Regardless of the rate of diversion or the amount of storage, if the change order is to be in effect less than 10 days, the board shall exercise its discretion with respect to requiring notice, both before and after issuance of the change order, and may require such proof of notice as it deems appropriate. (d) Any interested person may file an objection to the temporary change with the board, and the board shall send a copy of that objection to the permittee or licensee. (e) The board shall give prompt consideration to any objection, and may hold a hearing thereon, after notice to all interested persons. (f) Failure of the permittee or licensee to comply with any requirement of this section shall result in the automatic termination of the temporary change.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 1439. Section 1439.

The board shall supervise diversion and use of water under the temporary change order for the protection of all other lawful users of water and instream beneficial uses and for compliance with change order conditions.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 1440. Section 1440.

A temporary change order issued under this article shall not result in the creation of a vested right, even of a temporary nature, but shall be subject at all times to modification or revocation in the discretion of the board. The authorization to divert and use water under a temporary change order shall automatically expire 180 days after the authorization takes effect, unless an earlier date is specified or the temporary change order is revoked. The 180-day period does not include any time required for monitoring, reporting, or mitigation before or after the authorization to divert or use water under the temporary change order. If the temporary change order authorizes diversion to storage, the 180-day period is a limitation on the authorization to divert and not a limitation on the authorization for beneficial use of water diverted to storage.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 1441. Section 1441.

A temporary change order issued under this article may be renewed by the board. Requests for renewal shall be processed in the manner provided by this chapter except that the permittee or licensee shall not be required to file duplicate maps, drawings, or other data if they were furnished with the original petition. Each such renewal shall be valid for a period not to exceed 180 days from the date of renewal.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 1442. Section 1442.

This article shall not apply to any permittee or licensee petitioning for a temporary change pursuant to Chapter 10.5 (commencing with Section 1725).

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026